Container supporting and closing mechanism



A118 17, 1943- 1 H. G. ElsLr-:R 2,447,240

CONTAINER SUPPORTING AND CLOSING MECHANISM F'led .July 29, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet l 38 39 Flgl 37 3| I 34 L Il 33 26 fl* 24 22 28 Of f, '2 @fi/23 JI l E I7 f d Y l 2l 20 l5' 62a, "L [i \"\|6 i l 4| I4 y '5" "l 6' 56 l) w 42 1? i 53 f l In I9 sgae., sa, 55 57 le 40 se $2 I w 63 f4o il 54 63 l 58';

64 l- 0 E 4Q l y l A ..L l 49 48 70 a' WM i" 74 1' i' i l ,5o E l. v i I 47 I l i 47 f l 1 I 1 U I I. I l 45 46,' f l l ,f 43`F 44, :j l J 4 AIO/ '3 INVENTDH HEN YA E. EBU-:R

H. G. EISLER Aug. 17, 1948.

` CONTAINER SUPPORTING AND CLOSING MECHANISM Filed July 29, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ihn/ENTER 'YE EISLEH AT T'Y.

ug- 17, 1948- H. G. ElsLER CONTAINER SUPPORTING AND CLOSING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 29, 1944 INVENTDH HEN E. ElEILEFe ATT'Y Patented Aug. 17, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CNTAINER SUPPORTING AND CLOSING MECHANISM Henry Eisler, Wilmette, Ill.

. Application July 29, 1944, Serial No. 547,215

This invention relates to a pressure cooker and more particularly to a pressure cooker provided with novel means for facilitating the handling and treatment of a plurality of containers of the food to be processed., while insuring the safety of the operator.

In accordance with my present invention, a l"carrier for the individual food containers is so lconstructed that it may be bodily moved into and Iout of the pressure cooker and may be so operated while within the pressure cooker as to insure uniformity of processing of the food in each of the individual containers. To accomplish this end, the container carrier is provided with a lower plate for supporting a plurality of the food containers and with an upper plate that is relatively movable and that is capable of being locked in adjusted position to hold the closures for the containers in alignment for sealing thesame. The upper, relatively movable member includes individual closure supporting elements Y that are spring urged toward sealing relationship between the closures'and the containers. The construction further includes a lever carried by the cover of the cooker and manually operable from the outside to depress the upper, relatively movable plate and thereby effect the simultaneous sealing of all of the food containers when the proper point in the operation has been reached. In this way uniformity of results is assured.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a pressure cooker of novel and improved construction whereby food in'a plurality of individual containers can be handled as a unit and uniformly processed with a minimum of effort and a maximum of safety on the operators part.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a pressure cooker having guiding means arranged on the inside thereof, and a carrier for a plurality of containers and the closures therefor, the carrier being so arranged as to cooperate with the guiding means to align the y closures with the containers, and means being provided whereby at the proper point in the operation of the cooker the closures can be simultaneously applied to the individual containers to seal the same and thereby insure uniformity of product.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a unit type carrier for simultaneously handling a plurality of individual food containers and adapted to be moved bodily into and out of a pressure cooker without necessitating the separate handling of the individual food containers.

vention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

.On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of a pressure cooker embodying the principles of my invention, with parts in elevation;

, Figure 2 is a top plan View, with the cover removed, of the pressure cooker illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along the line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along the line IV-IV of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the pressure cooker, with portions removed from the cover thereof to show the inside thereof;

Figure V6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, illustrating the position of certain of the elements when quart-sized containers are used instead of the pint-sized containers illustrated'in Figure 1; and

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational View of a closure supporting and engaging memf ber, with parts broken away and in section to show details of construction.

The reference numeral I0 indicates generally Aa pressure cooker, comprising-a vessel II and a cover I2 therefor. Said vessel II may be made of cast aluminum or of anyother suitable metal or material. As is customary, the vessel II is cylindrical in form with a plane bottom wall I3 and a plane upper edge surface I4. The cover I2 is dome-shaped and provided with a lower plane edge I5. Between the edges I4 and I5 a gasket I 6 is positioned to seal the vessel when the cover is in place.

The cover is adapted to be clamped in closing position by means of a plurality of swing bolts I1 that are pivotally mounted from lugs I8 integral with said vessel I I. The cover I 2 is provided with slots'IS in its peripheral ange 20 for receiving said swing bolts I'I. Thumb nuts 2| 'are carried by the free, threaded ends of said swing bolts I1 and are adapted to be turned down against the peripheral flange 20 to clamp the cover I2 Yin place. To remove the cover, the thumb nuts 2| are merely turned back sumciently to permit the swing bolts Il to be swung out of the slots I9.

A conventional pressure gauge 22 is carried by the cover I2. Said cover I2 is also provided with a vent 23 which serves to permit the escape of air during the heating up stage. Said vent 23 may be provided with means for automatically closing the same when the temperature of the escaping gases reaches a predetermined point.

The cover I2 is also provided with an upstanding centrally positioned boss 2e. lSaid boss is prou vided with a bore that extends axially therethrough and that is of varying diameters along the length thereof. At its upper end, the bore 25 is enlarged and threaded as at 25. At its lower end the bore 25 is smoothly cylindrical kand of reduced diameter, as at 2l. Between the upper threaded portion 26 and the lower smooth portion 21, the bore 25 is of an intermediate diameter and formed with a smooth .cylindrical wall, 'as at 28. A pin 29 exten-ds through said bore 25 and is provided at its lower end with a conically shaped head 33, while its upper end projects above the boss 24 and is provided with a smoothly rounded upper face 3l. Packing 32 surrounds said pin 29 in the intermediate bore portion 28, and a packing gland 33 is adapted to bethreaded into said threaded bore portion 25 against said packing to hold the same tightly in place and eiect a seal about the pin 2S.

The cover I2 is also provided with an upstanding lug 34, that is adjacent to and may be inn tegrally formed with said boss 2d and the cover I2.Y At its upper end, the ,lug 35 has a cylindrical portion 35, through which extends a cylindrical bore 35. A pin 3'1 is pivotally mounted within said bore 36 andis secured at its outer ends to the bifurcatedend .33. of a handle 35, Said handle 39, or lever, is adapted normally to rest upon the upper surface 3| of the pin 29. Bydepressing the lever 39, the operator can thus depress the pin 29 for a purpose that will later appear.

The vessel Ii Ais. preferably provided on its inner cylindrical wall with a plurality of upstanding guides lill. Said guides il may be cast integrally withthe body of the vessel I I or may be separately formedand secured to the inner wall thereof. The upper portions of the guides il are smoothly rounded, as at 4I soas to provide a taper toward the inner `cylindrical wall of the vessel.

A- food container carrier for insertion into the vessel II is indicated generally by the reference numeral 42. Said carrier 42 comprises a bottom plate 43 having downwardly extending leg portions 44 for resting upon the inside of the bottom wall I3. Said plate 43 is circular and of lesser diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the vessel I I but of greater diameter than the diameter between the inside edges of the guiding ribs di), Accordingly, said plate 43 is provided with guiding grooves 45 for receiving the guiding ribs 48 when the carrier l2 is moved into or out of the vessel. The plate 43 is also provi-ded with spaced, circular depressions t5 (Fig. l) for receiving individual containers lll.

As shown, the containers :il are glass jars, cylindrical in shape and having necks All of reduced diameter that terminate in upper plane edge faces 59. It will be understood, however, that cans in stead of glassjars, or any other form of receptacle,'may be employed. It is not necessary, as will be later pointe-d out, that glass jars be provided with externally threaded neck portions, since the closures are held in sealing relationship to the containers by the vacuum, or reduced pressure, created within the containers.

The bottom plate 43 is carried by, or `formed integrally with, an upstanding cylindrical member 56 that extends into contact with the bottom wall I3, as at 5I. Said cylindrical member 5D is provided with a plurality of apertures 52 to perf mit the escape of steam formed when the water rriphery thereof.

d in the bottom of the Vessel Ii is heated. Ordinarily, the vessel Il will be filled with water up to, but preferably not above, the level of the bottom plate 43.

The upper portion of the cylindrical member 5I), as at 53 serves as a guide for an upper closure carrying plate 54. Said plate 55.. is provided with a central hub portion 55 having a bore 56 therethrough of substantially the 'same diameter as the outer diameter of the cylindrical guide portion 53 which is received in said bore Strengthening ribs 5l extend radially from the upper portion 55 toward the outer periphery of the upper plate 5a, but terminate substantially short of the outer pe- The outer periphery of said plate 5ft is provided with guide slots 55 for re- 'ceiving'the guiding ribs di?.

The upper guide portion 53 of said cylindrical member 56 is provided with diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending slots 59. A cylindrical rod '55 is positioned in the upper end of said cylind'ri'calmember 5t and carries a transverse pin 6i l thatextends vthrough said slots 59.

Thecylindrical rod 69 .is provided at its opposite ends with identical conical recesses 62 and 62a. When. in the position illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, the cylindrical rod Si! is of such an effective `length as to accommodate the operation of the carrier i2 to pint-sized jars el. The upper end '52a appropriately carries the legend pints (Fig. 2) to indicate to the operator the position of thecylin-clrical rod 6G. V/hen said rod Eil is reversed, theY conical depression $2 is upermost (Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive) Vand that end bears the legend quarts (Fig. 5). The function of said cylindrical rod 6i) will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

The. upper carrier plate 54 is provided with spaced, upstanding bosses 53, which, when the carrier 42 is in position within the Vessel il, are

axially aligned with respect to the depressed por-n tions 4B in the bottom plate 43 and also with respect, vof course, to the containers il A closure carrying member 5:3 is provided with an axially. upstanding stem portion 55 adapted to be slidable withina bore 55 in a boss 53. The upper endof each of said guiding stems 55 is provided withia transverse opening 6l for the insertion of a retaining pin Sil. Said retaining pin 63 rests against a washer 59 that is interposed between said pin Vand the. upper face of a boss 63. A spring 70 surrounds the lower portion of each of the stems 55 and is held under compression between Vthe lower surface of the plate 5@ and the upper surface of the closure carrier member Sil. Each of the carrier members @El is thus urged downwardly .under Vthe influence of a spring lil, but its downwardmovement .is limited by the re taining pin 68.

As best illustrated inliligure each of the closure carrying members 6d is provided at its periphery with a plurality of spring clips lI, secured at one end by a screw l2. The free end of each of said clips 'Ii is bowed slightly inwardly as at 'I3 torengage with the outer rim of a cover or closurelll. Each of said covers or closures 'I4 has an outer annular recess, or groove, 'i5 for receiving a resilient gasket l, which may suitablyY be formed ofv rubber and which serves to effecta seal with the upper edge 1li! of a containerv 4l. It will be understood that the spring clips 'II serve to releasably retain the closures lil during the pressure cooking operation Theupper guide portion 53 of the hollow cylindrical member 50 (Figs. 3 and 4) is provided with a plurality of diametrically opposed depressions, or dimples, 11 and 11a, and 18 and 18a, for receiving a pair of opposed detents 19 and 19a. Said detents 19 and 19a are carried by the free ends of strips 85 and 80a; which are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends in slotted screws SI and Bla., as at 82 and 32a., Springs 83 and 83a, held under compression within sockets S4 and 84a formed in the boss 55, continually urge the detent members 19 and 19a against the cylindrical member 50. Accordingly, when the sets of dimples 11 and 11a, or 18 and 18a, are passed beneath the ends of the detents 19 and 19a, said ends are pressed into the corresponding Vdimples Vby virtue of the action of the springs 83 and 83a.

To release the detents 'I9 and 19a, the free ends of the strips 80 and 80a are pressed inwardly to lift the ends ofthe detents out of the corresponding dimples. The upper closure carrying plate 54 can thereupon be slipped off of the guiding end 53 of the cylindrical member 59.

The operation of the pressure cooker will now be described.

Before the carrier 42 is introduced into the Vessel I I, the containers 41, iilled substantially to the top with the food product that is to be processed, are positioned in the depressions 46 in the bottom plate 43, The closures 14 are pressed upwardly for engagement by the spring clips 1I of the individual closure carrier members 64. The upper carrier plate 54 is next slipped over the guiding end 53 of the cylindrical member 59, the detents 19 and 19a being allowed to enter the appropriate dimples for holding the closures 14 in slightly spaced relation above the upper edges 49 of the respective containers 41, as illustrated in Figures 1, 6 and 7. The rod 59, with the proper end up depending upon whether pint or quart containers are being used, is next inserted into the upper slotted end oi the cylindrical member I 55, with the cross-pin 5I extending through the slots 59 and resting upon the upper end of the boss 55,

The carrier 42, loaded with the lled containers 41, is then lowered into the vessel I I, care being taken to t the guiding ribs 4I! into the slots 45 and 58 formed for the purpose in the peripheral edges of the bottom plate 43 and top plate 54, respectively. In this way, the closures 14 are automatiically'aligned with the individual containers 41. The cover I2 is next placed on the vessel II and the swing bolts I1 moved into position and the nuts 2| tightened down by hand. Prior to putting on the cover I2, the operator should have put a sufficient quantity of water in the bottom of the vessel I I to come to about the level of the bottom plate 43.

The pressure cooker is then placed over a burner, electrical heating element, or the like, to raise the temperature of the water within the vessel to its boiling point. During this heating period, air and gases are automatically vented through the vent 23. The container closures 14 are held in position adjacent to, but slightly spaced from the upper edges 49 of the containers 41, as illustrated in Figures 1 6 and '1. This is to permit the cold air to escape from the containers 41 and also to permit the heat to penetrate more rapidly into the contents of said containers 41. The containers 41 should not be so completely filled as to spill over the upper edges 49 during this heating period, If the contents of the containers 41 do spill over, it is likely to interfere with the sealing of the containers.

After the water in the cooker starts to b oiLas indicated by the escape of steamfrom thel ventthere is no necessity for a thermometer in addi-V tion to the pressure gauge 22', but a thermometer may, of course, be employed if desired. After the pressure has reached the predetermined figure and has been held for the predetermined length'of time, the heating is discontinued and the handle 39 moved downwardly to effect a sealing of the containers 41.

Upon? the downward movement of the handle 39, the pin 29 iscorrespondingly'depressed and that, Yin turn, depresses the rod 60. During continued downward movement lof the rod 60, the cross-pin 6I comes into seating engagement with upper edge of the boss 55 (Figs. 1 and 6). Upon further downward movement of the lever 39, the pin 29 and associated rod 60, the cross-pin 6I forces the entire upper plate 54 downwardly until the closures 14 are firmly seated against the upper edges 49 of the respective containers 41, During this further downward movement, the detents 19 and 19a ride out of the corresponding dimples 18 and 18a (Fig. 3)l or 11 and 11a (Fig. 4) until the vdetents reach the next lower set of recesses 85 an-d 85a (Fig. 3) or 86 and 86a (Fig. 4). The detents thereupon snap into the set of recesses 85 and 85a, or'S and 86a, which are formed with abruptly curved upper edges and slopingly curved lower edges. The purpose of so forming the recesses 86 and 86a and 85 and 85a,

is to facilitate the further downward movement Y of the detents 19 and 19a out of said recesses, while preventing the disengagement of the detents 19 and 19a upon relative upward movement of said upper plate 54. The detents 19 and 19a can be disengaged from said recesses 85 and 85a, or 85 and 86a, only 'by manually pressing thefree ends of said strips V and 80a toward eachother. y

It will be apparent that the downward movement of the upperplate 54, as just described, efiects the simultaneous seal of all `of the containers 41 with a uniform pressure. The pressure, it will -be observed, is that exerted by the in-dividual springs 10 that are heldunder compression between the under surface of the plate 54 and the upper surfaces of the closure carrier elements 64. No positive pressure, other than that of the springs 1D, is exerted upon said closure carrier elements 64, since the stems I5Y thereof are free to move upwardly relative to the plate 54.

After the pressure has dropped to O on the gauge 22, the vent is then opened and the wing nuts 2| are loosened and the swing bolts I1 swung out of their slots I9, The cover I2 is then removed. The release of downward pressure on they upper plate 54 may permit slight upward movevment of said plate 54 until the `detents 19 and 19a become engaged in the recesses 85 and 85a, whereupon further relative upward movement becomes impossible. The rod 60 and pin 6I are then removed andthe entire carrier 42 and `containers 41 carried thereby are lifted out of the unit. The unit canbe set aside until the containers 41 and their contents have cooledv sufliciently to make it safe to remove the upper plate 54,v or, if the'containers 41 are cans, the entire unit can be plunged in a body of cold water to 7? 8:- coohdoiwntheecontanersizarrdjhein contentsaasf; ers:;bodily movable into andv out of -saidloodyflporeV rapidiyqaspossible;,=. tion in cooperation with `said :guidessaid support 'Ile coolingrof the-:contentsioiithe .containersvkrv including a lowerplatformfor supportngfsaidp Hnvilkioficourserproduce apartialzvacirum-fwith:Y containers, a central npstanding post securedto.J inssaidscontainersaahoveethe-alever ofitheefood 53; said platform, an upperplate movably mountedi product .thereirrzf- The:A i'nountoithis;vvacuurnsA on said post for vertical adjustment thereon;` cot-V- vviikdeisubstantiallyethe-fsamefiorallf'ofsthesconel operating members on said plate andpostifor minera-S WhHFa-theam tempalu'e; Since' they holding said plate in any one of a plurality of ver,- i havesallibeenrsealed .undentuniformftemperature tioaliy,v adjusted positions, membersA dependingly anddnressurecauditions.;. 10S supported from said plate for releasably retain;v

Aitor?thee-containers?have 560016@ SufLCeI-llly; ing container closures in alignment with saidV theiiuppe plate -.54:isfremoved:byfmamlallyrecontainers and having limited movement toward'` leasing;fthe;.detente,Il9:andzlSainarid-lifting;HDMIY said containers, and springs urging said members the'i'llppl jcarl'irp'latej 54.1., sll'dfcalfrieljplate toward the `Open ends of Said Containers agover 54 S slipped Off the upperaendz-Qffrthe:AcylndrCal l5 ifor ysaid body portion having a central opening', a A member 50;?,whereupn'theCOntaineIS41 Carl'be fzee1y-extendl'lg through Said Central Open-V remQV-edfron'llthibbttomfffplate and "palckedfV ing a lever mounted 0n Said coverrfor forshlpmentofoth Wise' dlsposedlffi Theccon' movement against said pin, and a connecting tainerse'tWillgallbe oundto' be-- gproperlygandY element betwem 59m pin and upper plate for p-e'manentl'y'Sea/lediifthefopemtmn ha'Sf'been-EO :transmitting a downward force appliedby said p-Qperlyca'rned out# lever against said pig to depress said upper-plate I'IWIHFO'COUISG: bellndel'SOOdthatVaIlOuS* and acting through Said sp1-ings to force said Y detaiflsaotfconstructron zmaybeavaried through af closures into sealing contant with said container Wide,- `:range---\vitlf1out :departingffr omA theprinciples otrthis .inventions andf--it isftherefore-,1l ,I1ot-the,pur 25` posea-to limit `the:.patent grantedihereonothery wise, than necessitated aby; thescopeeofy the sappended-,claims,.t

Irelaim asffmir invention:

f 1. lIn aaptessureecookerfin-cludingagvessel:and a 30 cover theretors a fcarrier bodilymovable into f and out off said-l vessel;-I saidef carrierev comprising a: plate ,orssuppptingapluralityof containers;4 arelativel-y@ smovablefplate.- for lcarfrying closures ff orsaid-i containers members movably. supported 35 from:v said golosi-1re carryingj-plate and releasablyengaging?said-ffclosures, .spr-ings aotingguponesaid.- membersr-tozvfurge, sai-d engaged rclosures,tow-ard closing-rposition and.; means, formoving` saidolosureicarryingeplate-stofcause saidfmembers to 'I au press said `@Closures intofsealingfrelationship saidrcontainersssaid fineansincluding jafreversible member. having--, an l element -unequallw spaced# fromethze lends, of` said.: member for0 engaging ,said closure carrying plate to provide an eiective 452;. lengthinsone positionfor one; height otcon-tainer and'meffetiyeilengnh 11.1theTeverseptoufok' saidiolosures into sealing relationship with the an'l:''lgcldmund a Veqqeland open ends of said containers, whereupon said co-lb loperatingmembersact to holdy said plate-in .den a coven thereforsfalcarrierbodily ,movable intdeomessed position with Sad Containers damned andaoutpi,.saidvesseL- saicLcarrier comprisingrac( lg'etween Said mmd Said platform so as to* be plate for supportinglalpluralityof containers, bodily qovuble With'sad Support as a unit relatively,movableplate ,fonparryingclosuresfor 5 In`a pressmfe Cooke'r n Open wpped'vesse1 Salld-r-COntalne'rSwmembels Supported from -S aldhaving vertical guides a :carrier member having- Closure'rca'uymgfplate" and releasa'bly" engagmgf 55M elements cooperating vvtli said guides for inser- Said"Closuresmngsacng upon'lsadfmembels tion into and removal from said Vessel said cartofguree,saidsengaged.closurestoward,closnglpoe nel. CGmpSl-ng a-botom Support for @en ended Simon-andi means^for 'movngrsad'losure Carry" containers, a post secured to and extending upingeplatef.to..cause,.said ,memberstoress ,saldos Wardlyfrom Said Support, an upm? plate guided closures finto;sealinggelationshiplwith Asaid con.- 60 by Said most for movement relative/msgid bottom Y tanerssaid meanspincludinga reversiblememeV support-mdhwng downwardly movable'spring befhfwmgeanselemen-uequallyfspcedefromhe*- urged resilient elements releasably carrying cov-v ends==0f Sa'id-rmembelf fo`-engagmgf-said-Closur ersifoisaidcontainers, means including a lever carrying plateto,pitovideranr effective .lengthmrlm on the.. outside of said vessel anda cooperating. onespositionf;forsoneheight,fofcontainenand, an 6 movable member on the nsdeof Said Vessel opg open ends, whereupon said cooperatingmembers v onsaid plate and post act to hold said plate in depressed position with said containers clamped between said plateand said platform so `as to .be-v bodily` removable with said support as a unit.vv

4. VA container supporting andclosing mechanism for use in a pressure cooker, comprisin'ga lower platorm for supportingv a plurality of open-ended containers, a post securedtosaid platform and upstanoing therefrom, an upperA plate slidable upon said post into adjustedpOsi-L- tion thereon, cooperating members on said plate and post for holding said platein any one cfaV plurality of adjusted positions, members supported by said plate for independentlimited downward movement therefrom and having resilient elements for releasably retaining container closures= springs urging said ymembers toward the. open ends oi said containers, and means. assoc` ciated with said post and with said plate includl ing spring urged detents and cooperating notches. ythrough which a orcecmay be applied to *depressa saidfplate and acting through said springs -urge eetieflel'lgihi11=the='reV1"Se-p0St0nfoil-M11 erable on actuation of said leverto moves said OhQIUheghY-Oe Contale'iandflQl-lldn .eYe'- upper plate and bottom support relatively towardA Carried-by SBHCOYCI' Slm--Operating thHmglLSad-J each other to compress said springs and urge sei-idrY reversiblemember toeffeotsaidsealng relation- Covers ini-Q Sealing Contact with Said containers 5151111, 70 and. spring actuated. detente. associated with-said 3:::A Dressuregcookercomprising aNessel hav.- upper.V` plateand cooperating with said post for ingaclosed:bottomrbody portion forvecontaining.v releasably locking said upper plate and bottom` Water tobe heatedlfor-fthegenerationfofisteam` support in .their relatively changed position to and .havingginternalvertically,extending'guidea- 5 hold fsaid containers clamped :therebetweenfor a'support for a plurality 0f Open-ended containboduy movement with said carrier.

6. In a pressure cooker including a vessel for containing water to be generated into steam and a cover therefor, a carrier bodily movable into and out of said vessel, said carrier comprising a support for a plurality of open ended containers and a relatively movable support for closures for said containers, individual closure -carrying elements mounted on said lclosure support, springs urging said closures toward closing position, means including a lever carried by said cover and a movable plunger extending inside of said vessel cooperating with said lever and with said closure support for moving said closure support relative to said container support to cause said closures to seal said containers and kmeans on said carrier for releasably locking' said closure support relative to said container support when said closures are in said sealing position, whereby upon removal of said cover said carrier and sealed containers can be bodily removed from said vessel and allowed to cool outside of said vessel.

7. In a pressure cooker including a vessel and a cover therefor, a carrier bodily movable into and out of said vessel, said carrier comprising a support for a plurality of open ended containers, an upright post secured to said support and a relatively movable support movable on said post for closures for said containers, individual closure carrying elements mounted on said closure support, springs urging said closures toward closing position, means for moving said closure sup- 10 port relative to said container support to cause said closures to seal said containers and means including spring urged detents carried by said closure support and dimples on said post for reception of said detents for releasably locking said closure support when said closures are in said sealing position.

HENRY G. EISLER.

REFERENCES CITED l The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 465,393 Von Skotnicki Dec. 15, 1891 529,619 Hussener Nov. 20, 1894 649,012 Topscott May 8, 1900 649,029 Wright May 8, 1900 671,930 Lefngwell Apr. 9, 1901 697,261 Lees Apr. 8, 1902 831,527 Landsberger Sept. 18, 1906 1,908,003 Williams May 9, 1933 1,986,115 Offenhauser Jan. 1, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 20,348 Great Britain 1890 266,735 Germany Oct. 30, 1913 324,011 France Nov. 27, 1902 y 

